Car-coupling.



PATENTED JULY 17 1906.

A. G-APINSKI. CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2a, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1'7, 1906.

Application filed March 28, 1906. Serial No 308,463.

To all whom, it may concern:-

. Be it known that I, ALBERT GAPINsKI, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Carnegie,in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incar-couplings; and the invention relates more particularly to a couplingadapted to be used in connection with pit-cars of mines.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel form ofautomatic coupling for pit-cars wherein positive and reliable means areemployed for gripping a coupling bar or link.

Another object of this invention is the provision of novel means fornormally maintaining a coupling bar or link in alinement with thedraw-bar or center girder of a car, thus normally holding the couplingbar or link in position to enter the coupler of the adjoining car.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive coupler for pitcars which will be positive in its action andfree from all danger of being injured by constant use.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to behereinafter more fully described and claimed,

and, referring to the drawings accompanying this application, likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedcoupler, illustrating a portion of two pit-cars connected together. Fig.2 is a plan of my improved coupler, illustrating a coupling bar or linktherein. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a coupling bar or link. Fig. 4 isa plan of the bottommost section of myimproved coupling. Fig. 5 is abottom plan of the uppermost section of my improved coupling. Fig. 6 isa longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 7 is a similar view ofthe lowermost section of the coupling. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on the line w as of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a similar view taken on theline y y of Fig. 4, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of thecoupling-pin. Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional'view of thecoupling-pin shown in detail in Fig. 10.

To put my invention into practice, I construct my improved coupling oftwo sections, an upper section 1 and a lower section 2. These sectionsare adapted tofit together, and they have their confronting facesrecessed, as at 3 and 4, to form a pocket for the end of a coupling baror link 5*. The confronting faces of the sections land 2 at the oppositeend of said sections is also recessed, .as at 5 5, to permit of thesections being clamped together upon the end beam 6 of a car 7. The sameends of the sections 1 and 2 are further recessed, as at 8 8, to receivethe end of the draw-bar (not shown) of a car.

In securing the sections 1 and 2 together I provide the section 2 withupwardly-extending dowelpins 9 9 and 10 10, adapted to fit in openingsor recesses 11 11 and 12 12, respectively, of the upper section 1 of thecoupling. The dowel-pins serve to correctly position the sections 1 and2, and in securing them together I employ bolts and nuts 14, the boltsand nuts being arranged to firmly clamp the sections of a coupling uponthe beam 6 and the draw-bar, also to firmly holdsaid sections together.In recessing the sections 1 and 2, as at 3 and 4, I provide the uppersection 1 with a vertically-disposed recess or pocket 15 to receive acoupling-pin 16.

The coupling-pin 16 consists of a transverse bar 17, having a bevelededge 18, said bar at its ends being provided with depending arms 19 19,these arms engaging in slots 20 20,

formed in the section 2, when the coupling pin is lowered or in a lockedposition. To manipulate the coupling-pin 16, the transverse bar 17 isprovided with an upwardlyextending pin or rod 21, whichpasses through anopening 22, formed in the upper section 1 of the coupling.

The sections 1 and 2 of the coupling have their confronting facesequally recessed to form spring-pockets 23 23 and resser-arm pockets 2424. In the latter pockets are mounted angular resilient presser-arms 2525, which are engaged by springs 26 26, mounted in the former pockets.The resiliently-mounted presser-arms 25 are pivotally mounted in theirrespective pockets by one of the nuts and bolts 14, which are employedfor retaining the sections 1 and 2 of the coupler together.

The coupling baror link 5*, which I emby in connection with my improvedcouping, is provided with two recesses or trans* verse grooves 27 27adjacent each end, the ends of said bar or link being beveled upon allfour sides, as at 28.

In operation when the coupling bar or link 5 enters the coupling theupper beveled face of the bar, together with the beveled face or edge 18of the pin 16, causes the pin 16 to rise until the bar has passed intothe coupler between the presser-arms 25 25. As the pin 16 rides over thebeveled end of the bar 5 it finally reaches one of the recesses orgrooves 27 of said bar and drops into said recess or groove, locking thecoupling bar or link within the coupler. The presser-arms 25 25 serve inmaintaining the coupling bar or link 5 centrally of the coupling, alsoin returning the coupler bar or link to its normal position should it bemoved to one side. Io uncouple two cars connected together, it is onlynecessary to elevate one of the pins 16 through the medium of a link 29,carried by said pin, at which time the cars may be separated.

My improved coupler is preferably constructed of strong and durablemetal, and in making the same in two sections one of said sections canbe renewed irrespective of the other, this also being true of the pin16, which can be renewed by simply separating the sections of thecoupling.

Such changes in the construction and operation of my improved couplingas are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. A coupler for pit-cars consisting of two sections detachably securedtogether, the confronting faces of said sections being equally recessedto form pockets, spring-pressed arms pivotally mounted in one of saidsections, a coupling-pin mounted in the other of said sections andadapted to engage in the first-named section, acoupling-bar adapted toengage between said arms, said bar having grooves formed therein,substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, two similar sections or members adapted to matchtogether, means for securing said sections together, the matching facesof said sections being recessed to receive the end of a beam to whichthey are secured, said matching faces having pockets, spring-pressedarms pivotally mounted in the pockets of one section, dowel-pins carriedby the matching face of one of said sections and engaging in recessesprovided therefor in the matching face of the opposite section, both ofsaid sections recessed at their forward ends to permit the entry of acoupand a coupling-pin comprising a bar movable verticall in a recess inthe uppermost section, and aving depending arms adapted to engage inrecesses provided therefor in the lowermost section.

3. In a car-coupler, two coupling-sections matched together, dowel-pinscarried by the matching face of one section and engaging in recessesprov ded therefor in the matching face of the other section, boltssecuring said sections together, and each section being recessed at itsforward end to permit the entry of a coupling-link, in combination witha coupling-pin comprising a transverse bar movable vertically in arecess provided therefor in one of said sections and having dependingarms to engage in recesses provided therefor in the other of saidsections, said bar having a stem extending through the section in whichthe bar is movable.

4. In a car-coupler, two matching sections secured together, eachsection provided with recesses on its matching face, and having recessesin its forward end to permit the entry of a coupling-link between thesections, spring-pressed arms arranged within one of said sections toguide. said link, and a coupling-pin to engage with said link, said pincomprising a bar arranged to move in a recess provided therefor in theuppermost section, and having depending arms to engage in recessesprovided therefor in the lowermost section.

5. A coupling for pit-cars, comprising a body formed in two sections,secured together and recessed at their rear ends to receive a pit-carcar-beam, the said sections being recessed at their forward ends topermit the entry of a coupling-link, dowel-pins carried by one of saidsections to engage in recesses provided therefor in the other of saidsections and spring-pressed arms within the body to guide saidcoupling-link, in combination with a coupling-link having a transversegroove, and a coupling-pin to engage said link and comprising a barmovable in a recess in one of the sections and adapted when in loweredposition to engage in the transverse groove of the link, said barcarrying arms to engage in recesses provided therefor in the lowermostsection of the body.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALBERT GAPINSKI.

ling-link,

Witnesses:

W. L. McCoNNELL, JOHN SIKORSKI.

